THE LIMBS OF THE HOIISK 



117 



muscle. Its subsequent course will be followed in the dissection of 

 the leg. 



While in the thigh, the tibial nerve gives off two branches. (1) The 

 proximal muscular ramus (ramus muscularis proximalis) is large, 

 and leaves the tibial close to the level of the hip joint. It very soon 

 divides into nerves that are distributed to the biceps, semimembranosus, 



M. gluteus medius 



M. gluteus profundus. . 



M. vastus lateralis 



M. gluteus superficialis. ._ 



M. gastrocnemius (caput laterale). ,j 



Lig. collateral fibulare 



Mm. peromeus tertius et extensor 

 digitorum longus. 



-M. vastus medialis. 



-M. capsular] s. 

 _.M. iliopsoas. 



Mm. adductor et semimembranosus. 



Lig.lcollateralejtibiale. 



Fig. 76. — Anterior Aspect of the Femur, with Areas of Muscular and 

 Ligamentous Attachment. 



and semitendinosus muscles. (2) The posterior cutaneous sural l nerve 

 (n. cutaneus suree posterior (medialis)) is a small branch that leaves 

 the tibial just before it passes between the two heads of the gastro- 

 cnemius muscle. Leaving the thigh by following the lateral face of 

 the gastrocnemius, the sural nerve will be examined later in the 

 dissection of the leg. 



N. peron^eus communis. — The common peroneal 2 nerve travels down 



1 Sura [L.], the calf of the leg. 



- Trepovt) (peronC'), [Gr.] the pin of a brooch or buckle (fibula). 



